IT IS SO WONDERFUL TO SEE
ALL OF YOUR BEAUTIFUL FACES
HERE. MY NAME IS SCOTT MYERS.
THANK YOU. AND I'M THE FIRST
GENTLEMAN OF SEATTLE.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> IF YOU TOLD ME ONE YEAR AGO
THAT I WOULD BE STANDING HERE
BEFORE YOU TODAY I WOULD HAVE
SAID YOU ARE CRAZY. ME, A
GENTLEMAN? AND YET HERE I AM.
BUT, THIS ISN'T ABOUT ME, WE
ARE ALL HERE BECAUSE ONE FINE
MORNING THIS PAST NOVEMBER, THE
CITIZENS OF SEATTLE AWOKE TO
FIND THAT WE HAD ELECTED HOURS
ARE NEXT MAYOR, KATIE WILSON.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> HOW ON EARTH DID THIS HAPPEN?
A GREAT CHANGE HAS COME OVER
THIS COUNTRY, A NEW GENERATION
IS STARTING TO COME TO POWER.
AND WE ARE GOING TO DO THINGS
DIFFERENTLY. MILLENNIAL'S ARE
THE FIRST GENERATION IN MANY
DECADES THAT HAVE THINGS
SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE THAN OUR
PARENTS. AND THE NEXT GENERATION
IS SET TO BE EVEN WORSE OFF THAN
WE. IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR A
LIFE THAT ISN'T A CONSTANT
STRUGGLE JUST TO KEEP YOUR HEAD
ABOVE WATER? IS IT TOO MUCH TASK
FOR A PLACE IN THE WORLD, IS IT
TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR A FUTURE TO
LOOK FORWARD TO? AS LONG AS THE
ECONOMY INCREASINGLY FAILS, THE
NEEDS OF WORKING PEOPLE, THEY
ARE GOING TO LOOK FOR SOLUTIONS
OUTSIDE THE STATUS QUO. AND THIS
HAS OPENED UP SPACE FOR PEOPLE
LIKE KATIE WILSON TO GET
ELECTED.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> AND UNTIL THINGS GET BETTER,
THIS SPACE IS GOING TO OPEN UP
WIDER AND WIDER, KATIE IS JUST
ONE OF MANY TO COME BUT KATIE IS
ONLY AS STRONG AS THE PEOPLE SHE
REPRESENTS, ONLY AS STRONG AS
YOU. THE ORGANIZED POWER OF
WORKING PEOPLE, ORDINARY WORKING
PEOPLE IS THE ONLY
COUNTERBALANCE TO THE POWERFUL
ECONOMIC INTERESTS THAT WOULD
WORK AGAINST IT. ONLY WHEN WE
BECOME AS SERIOUS ABOUT TAKING
CARE OF OURSELVES AND TAKING
CARE OF ONE ANOTHER AS THEY ARE
ABOUT MAKING MONEY WILL WE BE
ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS
FACING US IN THE 21st CENTURY.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND BUILD A RADIANT FUTURE
FOR THE HUMAN RACE AND I HOPE
THAT LIKE KATIE YOU WILL DO
EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO
FIGURE OUT HOW WE MAKE THAT
FUTURE A REALITY. SO BEFORE
KATIE TAKES THE OATH OF OFFICE,
WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM A FEW
SPEAKERS WHO HAVE WORKED WITH
HER OVER THE YEARS, OUR FIRST
SPEAKER IS A GRADUATE OF RAINIER
BEACH HIGH SCHOOL. AND SHE WAS A
LEADER IN THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE
FREE YOUTH TRANSIT, SHE IS NOW A
DOCTORAL STUDENT IN HEALTH
SERVICES, RESEARCH AND POLICY AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA,
LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR AFRA!
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> OKAY, CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME
WELL? OKAY. I'M THE FIRST
SPEAKER SO I'M VERY NERVOUS SO
BEAR WITH ME BUT, IT IS MY HONOR
TO BE HERE TODAY WELCOMING YOU,
KATIE WILSON MAYOR AS CITY OF
SEATTLE. OKAY, SO KATIE AND I
FIRST CROSSED PATHS MANY YEARS
AGO, ALMOST 10, LONG BEFORE
EITHER OF US ENVISIONED THIS
MOMENT, SHE WAS THE HEAD OF THE
TRANSIT UNION AND I WAS A
SOPHOMORE AT HIGH SCHOOL, BACK
THEN I JUST SIMPLY DREAMED ABOUT
A BUS ARRIVING ON TIME. I WALKED
IN TRYING TO STAY SAFE, QUIET
AND OUT OF TROUBLE, I WOULD
PRACTICE SENTENCES IN MY HEAD
BUT BOTH BECAUSE I HAD AN ACCENT
AND ALSO BECAUSE I KNEW THAT
EVERYBODY DIDN'T HEAR EVERYBODY
THE SAME WAY, SOME KIDS WERE
ALLOWED TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT
THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND OTHERS
WERE TAUGHT IT WAS FIXED, SO THE
BIBLE WAS THE BEST YOU COULD
HOPE FOR. I WAS OBSERVING HOW
POWER WORKED AROUND ME, BECAUSE
I REALIZED THIS COUNTRY KIND OF
USES THE SAME PLAYBOOK, FLOOD
THE MEDIA WITH ACCUSATIONS THEN
USE PANIC TO JUSTIFY COLLECTIVE
PUNISHMENT. SO, AS A SOMALI
IMMIGRANT MUSLIM, AMERICAN --
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, OUR COMMUNITY
KNOWS THIS SCRIPT VERY WELL SO
WE HAD TRAVEL PLANS, ASSUMING
GARBAGE, AND THIS RHETORIC
DOESN'T STAY ABSTRACT, IT
ALWAYS TILTS DOWN, SO WE HAVE
SEEN IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS
PEOPLE PULLING UP TO SOMALI
ESTABLISHMENTS, HARASSING OUR
NEIGHBORS AND CHILDREN BECAUSE
THEY BELIEVE THAT WE ARE
UNTRUSTWORTHY. THIS IS WHAT
SUSTAINED DEHUMANIZATION DOES,
IT BECOMES A BELIEF AND SHOWS UP
IN RURAL PLACES WITH REAL
CONSEQUENCES. BUT THIS PLAYBOOK
IS NOT EXCLUSIVE TO US, SO WE
HAVE SEEN AFTER THE SUPREME
COURT REVERSAL, REPRODUCTIVE
CARE BECOMING A BATTLEGROUND,
FORCING PEOPLE INTO PREGNANCIES
AGAINST THEIR WILL, IMMIGRANT
POLICIES HAVE ALSO GRIPPED
FAMILIES APART BY TURNING HUMANS
INTO CASE NUMBERS AND SEATS ON
DEPORTATION FLIGHTS. BUT THIS IS
EXACTLY WHY CITY LEADERSHIP
MATTERS BECAUSE WITH NATIONAL
POLITICS BECOME COOL, CITIES
STILL HAVE POWER TO LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS CAN EITHER REPRODUCE
HARM OR INTERRUPT IT. TO BE
CLEAR, A CITY CANNOT FIX
EVERYTHING, A MAYOR IS NOT A
SUPERHERO BUT, LOCAL LEADERSHIP
CAN ORGANIZE PROTECTION AT THE
SCALE OF DAILY LIFE BECAUSE
IT'S NOT JUST WORDS, THEY ARE
PRACTICES. RIGHTS EXIST WHETHER
YOU CAN WALK DOWN THE STREET
WITHOUT BEING HARASSED. WHETHER
YOUR KID CAN LEARN WITHOUT BEING
SINGLED OUT AND WHETHER YOU CAN
ACCESS HEALTHCARE, WHETHER YOU
CAN WORSHIP WITHOUT BEING
WATCHED AND WHETHER YOUR FAMILY
CAN STAY TOGETHER AND BE CURRENT
WITHOUT SCANNING THE ROOM FIRST.
IT COMES DOWN TO INTERRUPTION,
HOW WILL HE PROTECT EACH OTHER,
HOW WILL THE MAYOR INTERRUPT
THOSE WHO WISH TO HARM OUR CITY
AND COMMUNITY. THE TRUTH IS I'M
STANDING HERE TODAY BECAUSE MY
LIFE IS INTERRUPTED BY PEOPLE
WHO CONSTANTLY REFUSE TO LET
SYSTEMS DECIDE MY CEILING. LIKE
MY HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS WHO
NOTICED ME, COMMUNITIES WHO
TAUGHT ME THAT POLICY IS
SOMETHING YOU CAN SHAKE, NOT
SURVIVE, AND KATIE WILSON WHO
TRUSTED ME EARLY BEFORE I WAS
POLISHED, WHEN I WAS JUST A
YOUNG HIGH SCHOOLER TRYING TO
GET TO SCHOOL ON TIME.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND THAT INTERIM SHOULD
MATTERS BECAUSE THE HIGH SCHOOL
WORKED WITH THE TRANSIT UNION,
SO WE COULD GET THE CITY OF
SEATTLE CARDS TO DISTRIBUTE
PEOPLE ACROSS THE CITY AND I
WILL END BY SAYING IT WAS PROOF
THAT A DREAM AT A BUS STOP CAN
BECOME OPPOSING A PAPER AND A
RIDE HOME IN REAL LIFE, PROOF
THAT YOU CAN NEVER BE TOO
OPTIMISTIC AND EVEN AFTER I
GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL AND
STARTED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON, KATIE APPOINTED ME
TO THE TRANSIT ADVISORY BOARD
AND CONTINUING THAT LEGACY OF
GETTING YOUNG LEADERS IN THE
ROOMS WHERE DECISIONS ARE MADE,
EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT READY. AND
THAT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN , IS
WHY I WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE MY
BACHELORS, MY MASTERS AND
GRADUATING WITH MY PHD IN HEALTH
SERVICES AND SOCIAL POLICY.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> SO YES, KEEP CALLING THE
MAYOR ABOUT POTHOLES , CALL
EVERY DAY IF YOU NEED TO BUT
ALSO REMEMBER THAT DEMOCRACY IS
A STREET WE ALL LIVE ON AND IF
YOU CAN PATCH UP THE ASPHALT, WE
CAN PATCH UP LIFE, IF WE CAN
BUILD THE CITY BUDGET, WE CAN
BUILD A CITY THAT REFUSES TO
COOPERATE WITH CRUELTY AND IF WE
CAN KEEP THE CITY RUNNING, THEN
WE CAN KEEP EACH OTHER SAFE.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> LASTLY, KATIE WILSON HAS
PLEDGED TO DEFEND THE CENTURY
CITY AS A PRACTICE, NOT JUST A
NAME. BECAUSE CITIES DO NOT EARN
MORALS BY HOW THEY TREAT THE
POWERFUL, AND WATCHING HISTORY
DOES NOT NEUTRALIZE BRUTALITY,
SO THANK YOU.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> LET'S HEAR IT FOR AFRA . OUR
NEXT SPEAKER IS JARVIS, AN
ORGANIZER WITH THE SELF MANAGED
HOME ORGANIZATION, NICHOLS BILL,
SO GIVE IT UP FOR JARVIS.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN FOLLOW
AFRA , THAT WAS GREAT. GOOD
MORNING EVERYONE AND HAPPY NEW
YEAR. I'M THRILLED AND HONORED
TO BE ASKED TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU
TODAY HERE AS WE CELEBRATE THE
INAUGURATION OF OUR NEW MAYOR,
KATIE WILSON, KATIE IS SOMEONE I
HAVE KNOWN FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS
NOW, AND SOMEONE I'VE MET WITH
FOR QUINTESSENTIALLY, A SEATTLE
CUP OF COFFEE AND I'M SO PROUD
THAT SHE IS ELECTED AS A NEW
MAYOR. FOR YEARS I HAVE BEEN A
PARTICIPANT IN GRASSROOTS SELF
MANAGED HOMELESS LED
ORGANIZATIONS AND OFTEN WE MEET
WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS, MAYORS,
COUNCILMEMBERS AND THE LIKE, AND
FUNNY ENOUGH, I WAS JUST TALKING
WITH HER, WE WERE UPSTAIRS IN
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THAT WAS
THE FIRST TIME I HAD BEEN IN THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE SINCE MAYOR
MURRAY TWO YEARS AGO.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> AND THAT WAS WHEN WE WERE
MEETING FOR THE DECLARATION OF A
STATE OF EMERGENCY ON
HOMELESSNESS. 10 YEARS AGO. SO
I'M ECSTATIC THAT OUR NEW MAYOR
IS SOMEONE THAT I'M ON A FIRST
NAME BASIS WITH AND CONSIDER A
FRIEND. A MAYOR THAT HAS BEEN IN
THE TRENCHES WITH US, SO TO
SPEAK, DURING THE NUMEROUS TIMES
WE DID DIRECT ACTION FROM
RALLIES TO SLEEP OUTS AND
ADVOCATING FOR LOW-INCOME AND
HOMELESS PEOPLE.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> I FIRST MET KATIE DURING THE
EARLY DAYS OF THE TRANSIT
RIDERS, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY,
OUR FIRST COLLABORATION WAS
DURING THE DEMISE OF THE RIDE
FREE AREA IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE, A
PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE
FOR FOUR DECADES. THAT WAS IN
2012 AND IT WAS ONLY NATURAL TO
JULIAN, WITH AN ORGANIZATION
THAT IS ADVOCATING FOR PORTABLE
TRANSIT AND ORGANIZATION OF
HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT RELY ON
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO GET
AROUND TO SERVICES AND
RESOURCES. AT ONE POINT WE HAD
TO CLOSE OUR SHELTERS DUE TO
RISING COSTS AND LACK OF
FUNDING. WE DECIDED TO STICK
TOGETHER AND CAMPOUT IN TENTS IN
THE PLAZA OF THE KING COUNTY
ADMINISTRATOR BUILDING. KATIE
WILSON WENT SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH US
CARRYING SLEEPING MATS AND
BLANKETS ON SIDEWALKS OF FIFTH
AVENUE.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> KATIE AND I PLAYED SCRABBLE
TOGETHER , MOSTLY AFTER
BRAINSTORMING SESSIONS,
SOMETIMES SHE CALLED ME FOR
COFFEE OR A BEER, JUST TO TRY TO
PLAY AND BEAT ME IN SCRABBLE.
SHE GOT ME ON THOSE TWO LETTER
WORDS THAT ARE REALLY BEYOND,
YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T REALLY USE
IT IN AN ORDINARY CONVERSATION.
AND THEN WE STARTED PLAYING WHEN
SHE JOINED OUR DELEGATION OF
HOMELESS PEOPLE TO OLYMPIA, WHEN
SHE TRIED TO CHANGE HOW HMIS,
THE HOMELESS MANAGEMENT
INFORMATION SYSTEM IS
IMPLEMENTED IN OUR STATE, AND IN
ESSENCE, THEY TRY TO GET RID OF
INFORMED CONSENT. AND THEY
FAILED BECAUSE A LARGE
DELEGATION INCLUDING SOME OF THE
TRANSIT RIDERS SENIOR MEMBERS
JOINED WITH US TALKING TO STATE
SENATORS AND STATE
REPRESENTATIVES , SO WE
SUCCEEDED AND INFORMED CONSENT
REMAINS IN PLACE.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> NOT QUITE SURE ABOUT THE
CRIMINOLOGY OF ALL EVENTS AND
COLLABORATIONS WITH TRANSIT
RIDERS UNION , SPECIFICALLY WITH
KATIE, BUT AT ONE POINT ALONG
WITH SURE WILL, A TRANSIT RIDERS
UNION SAFE AND REAL CHANGE
FORMED A COALITION AND AT THE
TIME WE CALLED OURSELVES THE
COMMITTEE TO END HOMELESSNESS IN
KING COUNTY OR OCCUPY CHKC, AND
I WORKED TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE
AGENCY TO TAKE SUBSTANTIVE
ACTION TO SOLVE HOMELESSNESS AND
PRIORITIZE THE SAFETY AND
SURVIVAL OF HOMELESS PEOPLE.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] TO THIS
END, WE MADE OUR PRESENCE KNOWN
AT THE GOVERNING BOARD MEETINGS,
WE WEREN'T DISRUPTIVE BUT WE
MADE OUR VIEWPOINT CLEAR THAT
HOMELESSNESS IS IN A STATE OF
EMERGENCY AND THERE ARE MORE
SHELTERED PEOPLE THAN ARE
SHELTER BEDS AVAILABLE AND
WITHOUT SHELTER, PEOPLE DIE.
SOME OF YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE
THAT IT IS THE THIRD ITERATION
OF OUR COUNTIES CONTINUING CARE,
FIRST THERE WAS THE COMMITTEE TO
END HOMELESSNESS IN KING COUNTY,
CHKC AND THE 10 YEAR PLAN TO END
HOMELESSNESS THAT ENDED IN 2015,
THEN IT BECAME ALL HOME AND NOW
WE HAVE THE KING COUNTY REGIONAL
HOMELESSNESS AUTHORITY. AND WITH
ITS ITERATION, THE GOALS HAVE
CHANGED FROM ENDING HOMELESSNESS
WITH CHKC TO MAKING HOMELESSNESS
RARE, BRIEF AND ONE TIME WITH
THE GOAL OF REDUCING UNSHELTERED
HOMELESSNESS. WE WERE LOWERING
THE BAR. SO, DURING ONE MEETING
AT CHKC, WE HELD UP NAMES OF
HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED
AND ANOTHER, WE FORMED A
CORRIDOR OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO
FOLLOW INTO THE ROOM BEHIND ME,
AS WE STOOD STARING AT THEM IN
SILENCE, AND THROUGH ALL OF
THIS, KATIE WILSON WAS A STEADY
PRESENCE BY OUR SIDE.
COINCIDENTALLY, THE NAME , OUR
COALITION, THE NAME OF OUR
COALITION EVOLVED INTO OUR CITY
COALITION IN 2015 . THE FOCUS
WAS ENSURING HOMELESS PEOPLE
HAVE THEIR INPUT RESPECTED,
REGARDING A NEW ORDINANCE,
GOVERNING ENCAMPMENTS AND AS HER
CAMPAIGN STATES, THIS IS OUR
CITY.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> NOT EVERYTHING THE COALITION
DID WENT SMOOTHLY, FUNNY STORY,
YOU KNOW AFTER THE COMMITTEE TO
END HOMELESSNESS ANNOUNCED THEY
WOULD HAVE THEIR NEXT MEETING AT
THE SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE IN
GEORGETOWN, A COALITION MADE
PLANS TO HOLD A CITY COUNCIL ,
FOLLOWED BY A SLEEP OUT AT THE
HATS AND BOOTS PARK NEARBY, AND
MARCHED TO THE COMMITTEE'S
GOVERNING BOARD MEETING IN THE
MORNING. THIS WAS THE FIRST CITY
COUNCIL ELECTION WITH AN
AUDIENCE BASICALLY FULL OF
HOMELESS PEOPLE AND SUPPORTERS,
PREPARED TO SLEEP OUT UNDER THE
SUMMER STARS INCLUDING KATIE
WILSON AND HER HUSBAND SCOTT
MYERS.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> SO, DURING THE SLEEP OUT,
AROUND 4:00 A.M. IN THE MORNING,
SOMEBODY, OR SOMEONE FROM THE
PARKS DEPARTMENT THAT HELPED US
GET THE PERMIT FOR THIS SLEEP
OUT FORGOT TO TELL, I GUESS THE
SUPERVISOR OF THE PARK TO TURN
OFF THE WATER SPRINKLERS. 4:00
A.M., THE WATER SPRINKLERS
STARTED GOING OFF .
>> AND I'M PRETTY SURE WITH IS
WORKING WITH KATIE AS WE START
THE YEAR AND HER NEW
ADMINISTRATION, I'M HOPEFUL AND
EXCITED OF WHAT WE CAN
ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER. WITH HER
LEADERSHIP.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WITH HER LEADERSHIP AND
GUIDED BY HER DEDICATION TO LOW
INCOME AND POOR PEOPLE THAT CAN
BARELY AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE
CITY, I'M HOPING FOR IN THE
NEXT FOUR YEARS, AND HOPEFULLY
WE CAN ADDRESS OUR AFFORDABILITY
CRISIS AND FINALLY ALSO ADDRESS
OUR HOMELESSNESS CRISIS TO THE
SCALE AND URGENCY IT DESERVES.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> I'M PRETTY SURE THAT IS A
TALL TASK, I'M SURE ANY
SURPRISES OR CHALLENGES ALONG
THE WAY, I'M PRETTY SURE KATIE,
HONORABLE MAYOR WILSON, I'M
GOING TO HAVE TO START CALLING
YOU THAT, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE
HE WILL BE A REMARKABLE MAYOR
FOR THE CITY. THANK YOU.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> LET'S HEAR IT FOR JARVIS.
OKAY, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS
CYNTHIA GREEN, CYNTHIA IS AN
EIGHT DECADE RESIDENT OF SEATTLE
WHO GREW UP IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT AND SHE IS THE NAMESAKE
OF THE CYNTHIA GREEN FAMILY
CENTER IN SKYWAY, LET'S HEAR IT
FOR CYNTHIA.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
CYNTHIA GREEN AND THIS MORNING I
HAVE THE HONOR OF STANDING
BEFORE YOU AS A WITNESS TO
HISTORY.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> I HAVE LIVED IN SEATTLE FOR
80 YEARS, I HAVE WATCHED THIS
CITY RISE AND FALL, EXPAND AND
EXCLUDE, PROMISE, AND
DISAPPOINT, I HAVE SEEN
PROSPERITY ARRIVE WITH PROMISES
AND TOO OFTEN LEAVE WITH
PEOPLE'S HOMES, HISTORY AND
DIGNITY IN ITS WAKE. I HAVE SEEN
LEADERSHIP COME AND GO. SOME
EARNEST, SOME AMBITIOUS, AND
SOME MORE CONCERNED WITH BEING
REMEMBERED THAN WITH REMEMBERING
THE PEOPLE.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> SO, WHEN I SAY THIS MOMENT
MATTERS, I SAY IT WITH THE
WEIGHT OF A LONG MEMORY. TODAY,
WE SWEAR IN A MAYOR WHO DID NOT
COME FROM THE LOUDEST ROOMS, OR
THE RICHEST DONORS.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> BUT FROM THE LONG WORK OF
ORGANIZING, LISTENING, AND
STANDING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE
USUALLY TOLD TO WAIT THEIR TURN,
MAYOR KATIE WILSON.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> MY FAMILY ENDORSED KATIE
EARLY, AND IN HER WE SAW THE
TYPE OF PERSON THIS WORLD NEEDS
MORE OF. SOMEONE BRAVE ENOUGH TO
RISK FAILURE AND PRACTICE OF
LOVE AND JUSTICE, RATHER THAN
FIND COMFORT IN PRESERVING A
SYSTEM THAT SURVIVES WITHOUT
CONCERN. AND LET ME TELL YOU, WE
CAUGHT SOME CRITICISM FOR IT. WE
WERE CAUTIONED TO BE SENSIBLE.
URGED TO TEMPER OUR HOPES AND
ACCEPT WHAT WAS DEEMED
REALISTIC. BUT HISTORY HAS
TAUGHT US THIS, REALISM,
ACCEPTING A SITUATION AS IT IS,
THIS IS OFTEN THE LANGUAGE OF
THOSE WHO HAVE GROWN COMFORTABLE
LIVING WITH INEQUITY.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND WHO WOULD PREFER OTHERS
TO DO THE SAME, KNOW THIS, WHEN
PEOPLE TELL YOU TO LOWER YOUR
EXPECTATIONS, IT'S USUALLY
BECAUSE THEY HAVE GOTTEN
COMFORTABLE WITH SOMEONE ELSE
PAYING THE PRICE.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> WE DID NOT WAVER BECAUSE IT
WAS TIME, NOT JUST FOR CHANGE,
BUT FOR A NEW VISION. AND THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE AGREED. TODAY
IS MORE THAN A CELEBRATION FOR
OUR MAYOR. IT IS VICTORY FOR THE
PEOPLE WHO REFUSE TO DISAPPEAR
FROM THIS CITY.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, CHARTERING
OF FUTURE CROWDED BY DECISIONS
THEY DID NOT CHOOSE, FOR ELDERS
WHO STAYED WEDNESDAY ITSELF
BECAME AN ACT OF COURAGE. FOR
MOTHERS AND KINSHIP CAREGIVERS
KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER WITH
TOO LITTLE SUPPORT, FOR ARTISTS
WHO GAVE SEATTLE IT'S VOICE
EVEN AS THEY STRUGGLED TO KEEP A
ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS. SEATTLE
DOES NOT BELONG ONLY TO THE
POWERFUL AURA TO THE ONES WITH
WEALTH COLLECTED, IT ALSO
BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE
IT, LABOR IN IT, AND BELIEVE IN
IT.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THIS IS OUR CITY.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> KATIE HAS TALKED ABOUT VISION
FROM THE BEGINNING. A VISION FOR
TRANSPORTATION THAT ACTUALLY
GETS PEOPLE WHERE THEY NEED TO
GO. A VISION FOR HOUSING, THAT
UNDERSTANDS A SIMPLE TRUTH, THAT
THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE CITY
OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN IT.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> A VISION THAT DOES NOT
CONFUSE GROWTH WITH GOODNESS.
LET ME TELL YOU WHY THAT
MATTERS. NOT LONG AGO, I SPOKE
WITH A GRANDMOTHER RAISING HER
GRANDCHILDREN AFTER THEIR MOTHER
PASSED. SHE DID EVERYTHING
RIGHT, WORKED WHEN SHE COULD,
KEPT THE KIDS IN SCHOOL, PAID
WHAT SHE COULD TOWARD THE RENT
BUT WHEN HER HOURS WERE CUT JUST
A LITTLE, THE RENT DIDN'T BEND
WITH HER, THE NOTICE CAME
ANYWAY. THE FAMILY DIDN'T LOSE
THEIR HOME BECAUSE OF THE LACK
OF EFFORT, THEY LOST IT BECAUSE
THE SYSTEM MAKES NO ROOM FOR
CARE, FOR ILLNESS OR FOR LOSS.
THAT'S NOT A PERSONAL FAILURE,
THAT'S A POLICY FAILURE.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THAT IS WHY LIVED EXPERIENCE
MATTERS, READING ABOUT STRUGGLE
IS NOT THE SAME AS LIVING IT.
KATIE KNOWS THE COST OF
CHILDCARE, SHE KNOWS WHAT IT'S
LIKE TO WAIT FOR A BUS THAT
NEVER COMES ON TIME. SHE KNOWS
RENT INCREASES AREN'T
ABSTRACTIONS, SOMETHING THAT
EXISTS ONLY AS AN IDEA, THEIR
DICTION NOTICES. SHE COFOUNDED
THE TRANSIT RIDERS UNION BECAUSE
SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT ACCESS,
AFFORDABILITY AND DIGNITY ARE
NOT LUXURIES, THEY ARE
NECESSITIES.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND SHE DIDN'T JUST ORGANIZE
FOR CHANGE WHEN IT WAS
FASHIONABLE, SHE SHOWED UP WHEN
IT WAS HARD. THAT'S THE
DIFFERENCE. SO MAYOR WILSON, THE
PATH AHEAD WILL BE HARD. YOU
WILL BE CELEBRATED AND THEN YOU
WILL BE SCRUTINIZED, YOUR WORK
AND ACTIONS WILL BE LOOKED OVER,
YOU WILL BE LIFTED UP AND THEN
TORN BACK DOWN. THIS IS THE
PATTERN. AND WHEN THOSE DAYS
COME, AND THEY WILL COME, I WANT
YOU TO REMEMBER THIS, YOU ARE
NOT ALONE.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> YOU HAVE ASSEMBLED A TEAM
THAT REFLECTS THE TRUE SEATTLE.
MULTIRACIAL, MULTIGENERATIONAL,
ROOTED IN COMMUNITY, RICH IN
LIVED WISDOM, PEOPLE WHO
UNDERSTAND THAT LOUDNESS IS NOT
CLARITY, THAT EGO IS NOT
LEADERSHIP, THAT COMPASSION ,
THAT PASSION IS NOT WEAKNESS.
YOU HAVE A CITY THAT CHOSE AN
ORGANIZER TO LEAD IT. BECAUSE
ORGANIZERS HAVE BEEN GUIDING US
ALL ALONG. THROUGH MUTUAL AID
CIRCLES, COMMUNITY GARDENS AND
CULTURAL SANCTUARIES, SEATTLE'S
HEARTBEAT IS ALWAYS LIVED AT THE
GRASSROOTS AND NOW THAT
HEARTBEAT HAS A SEAT AT CITY
HALL.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND TODAY IS NOT THE
CONCLUSION OF THE WORK, THIS IS
THE BEGINNING.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG
TIME, I FEEL THAT SOMETHING HAS
BEEN WITH TOO MANY PEOPLE IN
THIS CITY FOR FAR TOO LONG.
HOPE. SEATTLE CAN HOPE AGAIN.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> HOPE THAT NO FUTURE WORTH
BUILDING CAN BE PURCHASED WITH
THE SUFFERING OF THE MOST
VULNERABLE. HOPE INSISTS THAT
LEADERSHIP IS NOT SERVING THE
FEW WHILE MANAGING THE MANY.
BUT, THE RESPONSIBILITY, THE
WHOLE, TO COVER WITH LOVE AND
INTEGRITY AND TRUTH. AND HOPE
UNDERSTANDS THAT LOVE LIVES IN
SMALL FAITHFUL ACTS REPEATED
DAILY UNTIL TOGETHER, THEY
GATHER ENOUGH STRENGTH TO
RESTORE A CITY. SEATTLE IS NOT
FINISHED, IT IS A PLACE STILL
BECOMING. A CITY WAITING TO BE
BORN AGAIN.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> TODAY WE TAKE THE FIRST STEP
IN THAT WORK TOGETHER MAYOR
WILSON, WE PLACED OUR TRUST IN
YOU WITH CLEAR EYES AND
COMMITTED HEARTS. WALK WITH US
IN HOPE, LEAD WITH US IN TRUTH,
AND BUILD WITH US THE CITY WE
HAVE LONG BELIEVED IS POSSIBLE.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> COME ON, MS. GREEN!
>> I JUST WANTED TO ADD,
CONGRATULATIONS.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD JOB, THANK YOU, YOU KNOW
I LOVE YOU.
>> LET'S HEAR IT FOR CYNTHIA
GREEN.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> OUR FINAL SPEAKER BEFORE WE
GET TO THE OATH OF OFFICE IS
JOHN BURBANK, THE FOUNDER AND
RETIRED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
INSTITUTE, LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR
JOHN.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> WOW, WHAT AN AMAZING AUDIENCE
AND AMAZING DAY AND THANK YOU
CYNTHIA, THAT WAS SUCH A
MARVELOUS TALK. THANK YOU SCOTT
FOR ADJUSTING THE MICROPHONE,
BUT ALSO WE SHOULD KNOW THAT
SCOTT HAS TO BE ONE OF THE BEST
BAGEL BAKERS IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. AND A VERY SPECIAL
THANK YOU TO KATIE WILSON, TO
SCOTT MYERS AND JOSIE.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> AND AN OVERWHELMING THANK YOU
TO THE ACTIVISTS, CITIZENS WHO
WORK THEIR HEARTS OUT TO ELECT
KATIE WILSON AS OUR NEXT MAYOR.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> KATIE RAN HER CAMPAIGN WITH
THE THEME OF THIS IS YOUR CITY,
AND YOU EMBRACED THAT THEME, YOU
BUILT ON IT AND YOU MADE IT
REAL. NOW WE MUST CELEBRATE THE
FACT THAT THIS IS OUR CITY.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND AS SEATTLE IS OUR CITY,
WE MUST ACT, ALL OF US ACT WITH
RESPONSIBILITY, WITH RESPECT,
WITH PURPOSE AND WITH GOODWILL,
WE MUST WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE
OUR SHARED HANDWRITING
COMMONWEALTH OF SEATTLE. WE
CANNOT SIT BACK AND SIMPLY CHEER
OUR NEW MAYOR, WE CANNOT JUST
CELEBRATE ALEXIS, DION FOSTER,
ERICA EVANS AND EDDIE LIN, WE
KNOW THAT MAYOR WILSON AND THESE
NEWLY ELECTED LEADERS WILL WORK
HARD TO CREATE EQUITY, JUSTICE
AND WELL-BEING FOR ALL OF US BUT
TO MAKE THAT A REALITY, ALL OF
US MUST PARTICIPATE.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WE MUST CONTINUE TO BE
INNOVATIVE, PERSISTENT,
DEMANDING CITIZENS AND ALWAYS,
ALWAYS KEEP OUR EYES ON THE
PRIZE. KATIE WILSON AND SCOTT
MYERS BICYCLED TO MY OFFICE IN
2011, DRIPPING WATER OFF THEIR
RAIN GEAR AND ONTO OUR CARPET
AND EAGER TO DEVELOP AND TRADE
IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO MAKE SEATTLE
A BETTER TOWN FOR WORKING-CLASS
PEOPLE. AFTER OUR TALK, THEY
BICYCLED OFF IN THE POURING RAIN
AND THREE MONTHS LATER THEY
FOUNDED THE TRANSIT RIDERS UNION
AND THANKS TO THEM AND TO YOU
AND TO YOU, THE TRANSIT RIDERS
UNION BECAME A SMALL, POWERFUL
DYNAMIC ORGANIZATION THAT DID
NOT JUST TALK ABOUT THINGS BUT
INSTEAD MADE ACTUAL POLICY
PROGRESS.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> KATIE NEVER GIVES UP. THE DAY
AFTER TRUMP'S FIRST ELECTION,
KATIE CAME TO MY OFFICE AND SAID
LET'S START THE MOVEMENT TO
TRUMP-PROOF SEATTLE AND SHE DID
AND WE DID, GETTING THE CITY
COUNCIL TO UNANIMOUSLY PASS AN
INCOME TAX ON THE AFFLUENT AND
WHILE THAT WAS STYMIED IN THE
COURTS, IT SET THE STAGE FOR
PROGRESSIVE TAXATION, THANKS IN
LARGE PART TO KATIE WILSON.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> KATIE WAS THE ORIGINATOR OF
THE JUMPSTART TAX TO FUND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND FROM
JUMPSTART, WE DEVELOPED THE
EXCESS COMPENSATION TAX, TO FUND
SOCIAL HOUSING. AND THE VOTERS,
THEIR VOTES FOR THE EXCESS
COMPENSATION TAX CATAPULTED
KATIE INTO HER CAMPAIGN FOR
MAYOR. AND THAT WAS JUST 10
MONTHS AGO. HOW DO WE HONOR
KATIE THIS INCREDIBLY COURAGEOUS
AND AUDACIOUS AND SHY CITIZEN OF
SEATTLE? WE THANK HER FOR
RUNNING AND WINNING HER CAMPAIGN
TO BECOME SEATTLE'S CITY MAYOR,
WE THANK HER FOR HER UNDAUNTED,
QUIET, LONELY, SOMETIMES GOING
DOOR-TO-DOOR WITH JOSIE IN A
BABY CARRIER, AND ULTIMATELY
SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGNING TO
INCREASE THE MINIMUM WAGE IN
CITIES IN SEATTLE. WE THANK HER
FOR HER YOUTH AND EMPLOYEE
PASSES ON METRO BUSES, WE THANK
HER FOR HER NUMBER NATIONALLY
WORK TO INDEPENDENT MEDIA. WE
THANK HER FOR BUILDING
COALITIONS, WE THANK HER FOR
BUILDING COALITIONS OF COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS, WORKERS,
ACTIVISTS, IMMIGRANTS,
DEMOCRATS, SOCIALISTS, CHILDCARE
WORKERS, SMALL BUSINESSES,
UNEXPECTED LISTENERS AND
SUPPORTERS AND VOTERS.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WE THANK KATIE FOR LISTENING
AS SHE DID ON ELECTION EVE, WHEN
A MAN CAME TO THE DOOR AND SAID
HE JUST HAD ENOUGH OF POLITICS
AND CANDIDATES AND GOVERNMENT
AND RATHER THAN TURNING AROUND,
KATIE LISTENED AND WANTED TO
TALK WITH THIS MAN. MOST OF ALL,
WE THANK HER FOR BEING
AUTHENTIC, GARNISHED, AND HER
OWN WISE SELF, KATIE BARRETT
WILSON.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> A FEW YEARS AGO, FRANK, LARRY
AND I WERE AT A TRANSIT RIDERS
UNION ANNUAL FUNDRAISER, WE
TALKED ABOUT THE URGENT NEED FOR
A NEW GENERATION OF PROGRESSIVE
LEADERS . FRANK IS NO LONGER
WITH US, LARRY IS RETIRED, AND
I'M JUST A SPEAKER, SO WE TRIED
AND WE TRY TO CREATE PROGRESS
WITH INCREMENTAL VICTORIES AND
AN OVERWHELMINGLY POWERFUL
CORPORATE CONTEXT, SO WE CAN'T
SAY THAT KATIE STANDS ON OUR
SHOULDERS BECAUSE THAT IS NOT A
VERY STRONG PLATFORM FOR THE
FUTURE. WHAT WE CAN SAY IS THAT
NOW IS THE TIME FOR FUNDAMENTAL,
SYSTEMIC, AND UNIVERSAL PROGRESS
TO BUILD THE COMMONWEALTH AND
WELL-BEING OF OUR CITY.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND RISING FROM THE ASHES OF
TRUMPISM, OUR NEW MAYOR WILL
LEAD US IN CREATING A PHOENIX OF
HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY AND
GOODWILL AND ECONOMIC SECURITY
FOR ALL OF US IN THIS GREAT CITY
OF SEATTLE.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO
MENTION ONE MORE OF KATIE'S
QUALITIES, OVER THE PAST DECADE,
I BAKED AND DELIVERED PIES AND
COOKIES TO KATIE AND KATIE HAS A
VERY HEALTHY AND ALMOST ALWAYS
EAGER SWEET TOOTH. MY BAKERIES
DELIVERIES WERE ALWAYS WELCOMED
AND SOMETIMES EATEN IMMEDIATELY
EVEN WHILE WE WERE TALKING. SO
IF YOU WANT TO GET TO KATIE'S
HEART, TALK WITH HER, LISTEN
ABOUT PROGRESSIVE POLICY AND ACT
AS GOOD CITIZENS AND IF YOU WANT
TO GET TO HER WELL-BEING, BAKE
SOME MUFFINS FOR HER.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> IT IS SUCH AN HONOR FOR ME
AND FOR ALL OF US THAT KATIE IS
OUR NEW, WONDERFUL AND WISE
MAYOR.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> SO LET'S CELEBRATE AND
LET'S GET TO WORK, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU JOHN BURBANK. OKAY,
IT IS TIME TO GET ONTO BUSINESS
AND ADMINISTER THE OATH OF
OFFICE. I WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE PAULINE, THE FOUNDING
MEMBER OF THE TRANSIT RIDERS
UNION AND SINCE 2020 SHE HAS
MADE A NAME FOR HERSELF AS THE
TRANSIT FERRY, SHE'S GOING TO
ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THIS IS PAULINE.
>> HI, I AM TO QUOTE SOMEBODY
ELSE, BEYOND THRILLED, BEYOND
DELIGHTED TO HAVE THIS HONOR.
KATIE SURPRISED ME ABOUT A WEEK
AGO WITH THIS AND I AM JUST
TICKLED PINK TO BE HERE. CAN YOU
HEAR ME? OKAY. YEAH .
>> AS I SAID, I'M ABSOLUTELY
THRILLED TO DO THIS SO WITHOUT
FURTHER ADO, KATIE . PLEASE HOLD
UP YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT
AFTER ME. I, KATIE WILSON SWEAR.
>> I, KATIE WILSON SWEAR.
>> THAT I POSSESS ALL OF THE
QUALIFICATIONS PRESCRIBED BY THE
CITY OF SEATTLE CITY CHARTER.
>> THAT I POSSESS ALL OF THE
QUALIFICATIONS PRESCRIBED BY THE
CITY OF SEATTLE CITY CHARTER.
>> AND THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE.
>> AND THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE.
>> FOR THE POSITION OF MAYOR OF
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
>> FOR THE POSITION OF MAYOR OF
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
>> THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES.
>> THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES.
>> THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE
OF WASHINGTON.
>> THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE
OF WASHINGTON.
>> AND THE CHARTER AND
ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
>> AND THE CHARTER AND
ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
>> AND I WILL FAITHFULLY CONDUCT
MYSELF AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
>> AND I WILL FAITHFULLY CONDUCT
MYSELF AS THE MAYOR OF THE CITY
OF SEATTLE.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> YOUR NEW MAYOR, KATIE WILSON.
>> KATIE! KATIE! KATIE! KATIE!
KATIE! KATIE!
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> HI EVERYONE.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> I KNOW YOU HAVE ALL BEEN
STANDING FOR A LONG TIME, JUST A
LITTLE BIT LONGER. SO, MY TEAM
ASKED ME IF I WANTED SOME HELP
WITH MY SPEECH AND I SAID YOU
KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN
I'M THE MAYOR I'M GOING TO
HAVE SOME HELP WRITING SPEECHES
BUT I FEEL LIKE MAYBE THIS IS MY
LAST TIME WHERE I GET TO SAY
WHATEVER I WANT. SO, Y'ALL ARE
GETTING AN UNVENTED SPEECH HERE.
I CAN FEEL SOME WAVES OF
ANXIETY. IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY.
IT IS SUCH A PLEASURE AND HONOR
TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU
TODAY, I LOOK OUT AND I SEE SO
MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE PLAYED A
ROLE IN GETTING US TO THIS PLACE
OF PROMISE AND HOPE. I SEE
FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES AND
FAMILY, I SEE PEOPLE I HAVE
KNOWN FOR YEARS AND OTHERS I
JUST MET THIS YEAR AND MANY
OTHERS WHO I DON'T YET KNOW, I
SEE PEOPLE WHOSE NAMES ARE KNOWN
AND CELEBRATED AND OTHERS WHOSE
WORK IS QUIET AND
BEHIND-THE-SCENES BUT NO LESS
IMPORTANT. I SEE FELLOW
ORGANIZERS, UNION MEMBERS, I SEE
TECH WORKERS AND BARISTAS, I SEE
CITY EMPLOYEES, I SEE ELECTED
OFFICIALS AND I KNOW THERE'S AT
LEAST ONE FORMER MAYOR HERE. I
SEE YOUNG PEOPLE AND ELDERS, I
SEE PEOPLE WHOSE FAMILIES HAVE
LIVED HERE FOR GENERATIONS AND
OTHERS WHO MAY BE JUST ARRIVED
TO MAKE SEATTLE YOUR HOME. AND
TO ALL OF YOU AND TO EVERYONE
WATCHING FROM AFAR, AND TO ALL
THE PEOPLE WHO COULD NOT BE HERE
TODAY BECAUSE THEY ARE DOING THE
HARD, UNSUNG WORK THAT MAKES
SEATTLE RUN, I SAY THIS IS YOUR
CITY.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THIS IS YOUR CITY. THIS IS
YOUR CITY AND AS YOUR MAYOR, I
WILL WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY TO
MAKE THAT NOT JUST A PHRASE BUT
A LIVING REALITY. THIS IS YOUR
CITY, THAT MEANS THAT YOU BELONG
HERE, YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO BE
HERE AND TO LIVE A DIGNIFIED
LIFE, WHATEVER YOUR BACKGROUND
AND WHATEVER YOUR INCOME BUT IT
ALSO MEANS THAT ALL OF US HAVE A
SHARED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS
PLACE AND FOR EACH OTHER BECAUSE
SEATTLE IS WHAT WE MAKE OF IT
TOGETHER. IT'S HARD FOR ME TO
BELIEVE THAT IT HAS BEEN LESS
THAN TWO MONTHS SINCE THE
ELECTION AND IN A SHORT SPACE OF
TIME A LOT HAS HAPPENED, FOR ONE
THING, I'M GETTING REALLY GOOD
AT HIRING PEOPLE.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> BUT SERIOUSLY, I'M VERY
EXCITED ABOUT THE TEAM THAT WILL
BE JOINING ME IN THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE. I REMEMBER A
CONVERSATION I HAD WITH MY
HUSBAND, SOMETIME SHORTLY AFTER
THE PRIMARY WHEN IT BEGAN TO
LOOK LIKE THAT I MIGHT BECOME
THE MAYOR AND WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT WHAT QUALITIES WERE
IMPORTANT IN HIRING STAFF, A
SUBJECT WE OBVIOUSLY KNEW A LOT
ABOUT. IN THE END, WE CONCLUDED
THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS
CHARACTER . SOMEONE MIGHT SHARE
MY VISION AND WORLDVIEW, THEY
MIGHT BE COMPETENT AND
EXPERIENCED AND EFFECTIVE BUT IF
THEY ARE NOT IN HIS WORK FOR THE
RIGHT REASONS, IF THEY DON'T
HAVE ENOUGH SELF-AWARENESS TO
REFLECT ON THEIR OWN MOTIVATIONS
AND RISE ABOVE THEM WHEN NEEDED,
THEN THAT IS NOT A PERSON I
SHOULD PUT IN A POSITION OF
POWER.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> I BELIEVE THAT IT IS SO
IMPORTANT THAT THE PEOPLE
WORKING ALONGSIDE ME IN THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE EVERY SINGLE DAY
ARE GOOD PEOPLE WITH GOOD
JUDGMENT THAT HAVE THE BEST
INTEREST OF OUR CITY AT HEART
AND I'M FILLED WITH CONFIDENCE
AND HOPE FOR THE FUTURE IN PART
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IS GOING TO
BE THE CASE. WE ARE STILL
BUILDING THIS TEAM BUT MANY OF
THEM ARE ALREADY ON BOARD AND
SPRINKLED AMONG YOU TODAY AND I
HOPE YOU GET TO MEET THEM. WHAT
ELSE HAS HAPPENED SINCE ELECTION
NIGHT? LATE LAST MONTH I HAD THE
HONOR OF BEING NOTICED BY THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
WHO CALLED ME A VERY, VERY
LIBERAL/COMMUNIST MAYOR.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> IT'S NICE TO FEEL SEEN.
THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY
ABOUT THAT. AND EARLIER THIS
MONTH WE LAUNCHED OUR TRANSITION
TEAM SO THIS TEAM IS COMPOSED
ABOUT 60 VOLUNTEERS, COMMUNITY
LEADERS AND EXPERTS WHO ARE
HELPING TO TURN MANY OF THE
ISSUES I CAMPAIGNED AROUND INTO
ACTUAL PLANS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR MY ADMINISTRATION. MANY OF
THESE PEOPLE ARE HERE TODAY,
SOME OF THEM BEHIND ME AND I
WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT
THEIR WORK BECAUSE I'M VERY
PROUD OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
SO, SOMETIMES MAYORAL TRANSITION
TEAMS CAN BE A LITTLE BIT
PERFORMATIVE. YOU SELECT A BUNCH
OF PEOPLE WITH NAMES THAT OTHER
PEOPLE RECOGNIZE, YOU PUT THEM
IN A BIG ROOM, EVERYONE SAYS
THEIR PIECE, THEY FEEL
IMPORTANT, THEN EVERYBODY GOES
HOME. I REALLY HATE THAT KIND OF
THING. I DON'T LIKE WASTING
PEOPLE'S TIME SO AS A COMMUNITY
ORGANIZER, I DECIDED TO DO
THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY, FOR
OUR TRANSITION TEAM WE CHOSE
PEOPLE WHO WERE WILLING TO ROLL
UP THEIR SLEEVES, PUT IN REAL
TIME AND LABOR AND EXPAND THE
TENT, THESE 60 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
HARD AT WORK, REACHING OUT TO
ADVISERS ACROSS THE CITY,
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND
GATHERING INSIGHTS AND SO FAR IN
JUST A FEW WEEKS SINCE WE
LAUNCHED, THE COLLECTIVE WE
TALKED WITH WERE OVER 700
PEOPLE. THIS PROCESS WILL
CONTINUE THROUGH JANUARY AND
I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OF
THIS TEAM AND EXCITED TO SEE THE
RECOMMENDATIONS THEY ASSEMBLED,
THEY ARE DIGGING INTO ALL THE
SUBJECTS YOU MIGHT EXPECT,
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS AND
TRANSPORTATION AND CLIMATE
ACTION AND WORKERS RIGHTS AND
PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT WHEN MY
TRANSITION DIRECTOR SHARED WITH
ME A PROPOSAL FOR THE WORK
GROUPS WE WOULD BE ASSEMBLING,
THERE WAS ONE THAT STUCK OUT TO
ME. IT WAS CALLED CIVIC
NARRATIVE AND MAJOR INITIATIVES
AND I WAS LIKE WHAT DOES THAT
EVEN MEAN? CIVIC NARRATIVE,
THAT'S THE STORY THAT WE TELL
ABOUT OUR CITY, OUR COLLECTIVE
IDENTITY, WHO WE ARE AND WHERE
WE ARE GOING, MAJOR INITIATIVES,
THEY ARE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE
GOVERNMENT TEAMS UP WITH THE
PEOPLE AND THE INSTITUTIONS THAT
HAVE ACCESS TO VAST AMOUNTS OF
CAPITAL TO PUT ON BIG EVENTS OR
UNDERTAKE BIG INFRASTRUCTURE
PROJECTS THAT CHANGE THE FACE OF
OUR CITY. TO BE HONEST, THIS
KIND OF CIVIC CITY MAKING AND
THE CIVIC BOOSTING THAT SUPPORTS
IT, SURROUNDS IT, HAS NEVER BEEN
MY JAM. I'M KIND OF A REBEL
BROWSER, I CAMPAIGNED ON
AFFORDABILITY, ON TAXING THE
RICH . I HAVE SPENT MY CAREER
ORGANIZING WITH THE PEOPLE WHO
OFTEN GET LEFT OUT OF THOSE
OFFICIAL NARRATIVES. BUT NOW
I'M THE MAYOR AND IT'S MY JOB
TO CHANNEL EXCITEMENT FOR MAJOR
PROJECTS AND NOT JUST THAT, I
HAVE TO GENUINELY CARE ABOUT
THEM ENOUGH TO EXERCISE GOOD
JUDGMENT AND MAKE THE BEST
DECISIONS POSSIBLE FOR OUR CITY.
SO I HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A
CRISIS OF CONSCIOUS, CAN I DO
THAT? CAN I BE THE MAYOR OF THE
WATERFRONT IN THE WORLD CUP AND
THE STADIUMS AND THE SEATTLE
CENTER AND CONVENTION CENTER AND
ANY OTHER WE MIGHT DECIDE TO
BUILD. WHILE I HAVE SOME GOOD
NEWS FOR THE CITY, YES, YES I
CAN.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> I WILL DO IT IN MY OWN WAY
BUT I CAN DO THAT. BUT THAT ALSO
GOT ME THINKING ABOUT THIS IDEA
OF CIVIC NARRATIVE AND
SEATTLE'S IDENTITY BECAUSE THE
THING ABOUT CITIES IS THERE'S
NEVER JUST ONE STORY TO BE TOLD
ABOUT THEM. SEATTLE IS A CITY OF
INNOVATION, WE ARE A CITY OF
SOFTWARE AND SAME-DAY DELIVERY
AND CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY AND SO
MUCH MORE , THE KINDS OF
ADVANCES THAT ARE POWERED BY OUR
TECH AND AEROSPACE AND
BIOMEDICAL INDUSTRIES, BY MAJOR
RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, BY THE
BRILLIANCE OF BREWERS AND TECH
WORKERS AND ENGINEERS AND
RESEARCHERS AND THAT IS A CORE
PART OF SEATTLE'S IDENTITY BUT
JUST AS THERE IS CITY MAKING AND
INNOVATION FROM ABOVE, THERE'S
ALSO CITY MAKING AND INNOVATION
FROM BELOW. THERE'S KINDS OF
INNOVATION THAT NOBODY PAYS YOU
FOR BUT THEY ARE NO LESS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE SEATTLE IS
ALSO A CITY THAT HAS BEEN HOME
TO PIONEERS IN JAZZ AND ROCK AND
GRUNGE AND HIP-HOP. WE ARE A
CITY OF MUSIC AND LITERATURE AND
THE ARTS AND YES OF COURSE YOU
CAN MAKE MONEY IN THOSE FIELDS
AND SOME PEOPLE MAKE A LOT OF
MONEY BUT USUALLY BEFORE YOU
MAKE ANY MONEY THERE IS A LONG
PERIOD OF NOT MAKING ANY MONEY.
OF PURSUING YOUR CALLING JUST
BEFORE YOU ARE IN LOVE WITH IT,
BECAUSE YOU SEE OR HEAR OR HEAR
SOMETHING SOMEONE ELSE DOESN'T,
OR TO START A SMALL
BRICK-AND-MORTAR BUSINESS, TO
BRING SOMETHING NEW TO A VACANT
SPACE TO ENLIVEN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND I CAN TELL YOU
FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT NO
ONE PAYS YOU TO START A TRANSIT
RIDERS UNION. NO ONE PAYS YOU TO
TRY TO CHANGE THE WAY POWER
FLOWS THROUGH THE CITY, TO
CHANGE WHO HAS A VOICE IN
SHAPING OUR CITY'S FUTURE AND
POLITICS AND THESE KINDS OF
INNOVATIONS FROM BELOW ARE
SOMETHING THAT I'M AFRAID WE
ARE AT RISK OF LOSING BECAUSE IT
IS SO HARD TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN
THIS CITY SO WHEN WE FIGHT FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND CHILD
CARE, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT
SOLVING THE MATH PROBLEM OF HOW
TO MAKE YOUR HOUSEHOLD'S
REVENUE EXCEED ITS EXPENSES AND
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SHAPING OUR
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS, IT'S NOT JUST
ABOUT MAKING PEOPLES COMMUTE
SAFER OR SHORTER OR LESS
POLLUTING, IT'S ABOUT OPENING
UP THE TIME AND SPACE WHERE LIFE
HAPPENS, WHERE PEOPLE CAN BREED
AND EXPERIENCE AND CREATE, WHERE
WE CAN BEFALL HUMAN BEINGS AND
NOT JUST A MEANS TO AN END.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> I WANT TO LIVE IN A CITY THAT
HONORS WHAT YOU'RE DOING WHEN
YOU'RE NOT MAKING MONEY. I'M
NOT TALKING ABOUT WATCHING
NETFLIX BY THE WAY. I MEAN THE
TIME THAT YOU SPEND WITH YOUR
KID AT THE PLAYGROUND OR CARING
FOR A SICK FRIEND, I WANT TO
LIVE IN THE CITY THAT CELEBRATES
THE LABOR THAT PEOPLE PERFORM
VOLUNTARILY, LIKE SOMEONE ON THE
TRANSIT FERRY, WHO SPENT ALL DAY
CLEANING UP THE STOPS EVEN
THOUGH NOBODY IS PAYING HER TO
DO IT, A CITY THAT VALUES THE
PURSUITS THAT CREATE BEAUTY AND
COMMUNITY OR NOT THEY EVER TURN
INTO CAREERS. A CITY THAT THINKS
YOU SHOULD HAVE TIME TO READ A
BOOK AND LAY IN THE GRASS
STARING UP AT THE CLOUDS.
BECAUSE WE NEED BREAD BUT WE
NEED ROSES, TOO.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WE ALL DESERVE ROSES. AND WE
CAN HONOR THIS WORK AND LEISURE
NOT JUST BY PRAISING IT OR
SAYING THAT WE VALUE IT BUT BY
FIGHTING TO MAKE POSSIBLE A WAY
OF LIFE WHERE YOU DO NOT HAVE TO
SPEND EVERY WAKING MOMENT
FIGURING OUT HOW TO PAY YOUR
BILLS. WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO
WORK MULTIPLE JOBS TO SUPPORT
YOUR KIDS, WHERE YOU CAN RAISE A
FAMILY IN AN APARTMENT BECAUSE
THE CITY IS YOUR LIVING ROOM AND
THE PARK IS YOUR BACKYARD AND
THE GROCERY STORE IS A SHORT
WALK AWAY. AND I BELIEVE THAT WE
CAN HAVE ALL OF THIS BUT IT WILL
REQUIRE YET ANOTHER KIND OF
INNOVATION, INNOVATION AT CITY
HALL. WE ARE IN A MOMENT THAT
CALLS FOR VISION AND AMBITION
AND ALSO, I KNOW THAT THE
NECESSARY FOUNDATION FOR
AMBITION IS TRUST. AND THERE IS
NO MORE IMPORTANT PART OF MY JOB
AS MAYOR THAN TO BUILD UP
DESERVED TRUST, YOUR TRUST IN
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THAT MEANS
LISTENING AND RESPONDING,
SOLVING PROBLEMS AND GETTING
RESULTS. THAT MEANS MAKING TRUE
TANGIBLE PROCESS ON PROBLEMS
LIKE HOMELESSNESS WHERE PROGRESS
HAS ELUDED OUR CITY FOR SO MANY
YEARS. I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN DO
ALL OF THIS AND WE CAN ALSO DO
BIG, NEW THINGS. AND WE HAVE TO
DO BIG , NEW THINGS AND I'M
GOING TO BE CALLING ON ALL THE
BRILLIANCE AND CREATIVITY AND
DEDICATION OF OUR PUBLIC SECTOR
WORKERS, ARE CITY EMPLOYEES, AS
WE PUSH THE BOUNDARIES OF WHAT
WE CAN ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER. BUT
MOST OF ALL, SUCCESS IS GOING TO
REQUIRE ALL OF YOU. IS ANYONE
HERE AT SEATTLE CITY HALL FOR
THE VERY FIRST TIME THIS
MORNING? THAT'S A LOT OF HANDS.
WELCOME. THIS IS YOUR BUILDING.
THIS IS YOUR BUILDING AND I'M
GOING TO NEED YOU TO COME BACK
HERE AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.
BECAUSE THE PROGRESS THAT WE
NEED TO MAKE IS NOT JUST HANDED
DOWN FROM CITY HALL, THAT'S NOT
HOW POWER WORKS, THAT'S NOT HOW
POWER HAS EVER WORKED, WE WOULD
NOT HAVE AN EIGHT HOUR DAY OR
MINIMUM WAGE OR SOCIAL SECURITY
WITHOUT WORKERS ORGANIZING AND
FIGHTING FOR THOSE THINGS . WE
WOULD NOT HAVE THE RIGHTS THAT
WE HAVE FOR WOMEN, FOR BLACK AND
BROWN PEOPLE, FOR THE LGBT
COMMUNITY, WE ARE NOT MASS
MOVEMENTS FIGHTING FOR DIGNITY
AND EQUALITY. THESE THINGS HAVE
NEVER BEEN GIVEN TO US WITHOUT
PEOPLE ORGANIZING AND DEMANDING
CHANGE FROM THOSE IN POSITIONS
OF POWER AND THE SAME IS TRUE IN
SEATTLE, WE WOULDN'T HAVE SOME
OF THE STRONGEST TENANT
PROTECTIONS IN THE COUNTRY,
WITHOUT RENTERS ORGANIZING FOR
THOSE LAWS. AND WE WOULDN'T
HAVE FREE TRANSIT FOR YOUTH IF
STUDENTS AT RAINIER BEACH HIGH
SCHOOL HADN'T STOOD UP AND MADE
THAT THEIR FIGHT. WE WOULDN'T
HAVE JUMPSTART SEATTLE WITHOUT A
MULTIYEAR GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN
FOR PROGRESSIVE REVENUE AND WE
WOULD NOT HAVE THE HIGHEST
MINIMUM WAGE IN THE COUNTRY
WITHOUT PEOPLE POUNDING THE
PAVEMENT AND KNOCKING ON DOORS
AND GETTING OUT THE VOTE. WITH
ALL OF YOU IS WHERE THIS POWER
LIES AND THAT IS WHY I INTEND TO
GOVERN IN A WAY THAT CREATES
SPACE FOR ORGANIZERS AND
ORDINARY PEOPLE TO DO THE WORK
OF PUSHING OUR CITY AND SOCIETY
FORWARD TOWARD REALIZING OUR
HIGHEST AND BEST ASPIRATIONS
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WHAT I'M
ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IN OFFICE
WILL DEPEND ON WHAT YOU ARE ABLE
TO BUILD ON THE OUTSIDE. THIS IS
YOUR CITY AND I'M SO PROUD TO
BE YOUR MAYOR.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> KATIE! KATIE! KATIE! KATIE!
KATIE! KATIE! KATIE! KATIE!
KATIE!
>> THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY,
LET'S DO THIS TOGETHER.
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]